In a divorce between two parents, child custody may be given to either one or both parents. If one parent has custody of their children, then they have sole custody. But, if both parents share the responsibility for their children, then they likely have joint custody.
Is sole or joint custody better? Many courts believe that parents should be given joint custody, but that does not always mean it is the right arrangement. At the same time, some parents prefer sole custody. it is not always better than joint custody. There are many reasons why parents may want either sole or joint custody. Here is what you should know:
Why would joint custody be beneficial?
When parents have joint custody, they often make joint decisions about how their children should be raised. This often means working together to decide major issues, such as education, health care and belief systems. Co-parents may also rotate days or weeks when their children live with them. Many parents believe joint custody is best because it allows parents to be involved in their children’s lives.
Why would joint custody be difficult?
Joint custody is not always the solution after a divorce. Parents may argue a lot about what is right for their children. They may also have difficulties following custody arrangements. The issues may not be resolved with joint custody.
Why would sole custody be beneficial?
When a parent has sole custody, they are typically entirely responsible for raising their children. The other parent may not be in the picture or they could have very limited visitation rights. This could be beneficial if one parent is not fit to raise their children alone and unsupervised.
Why would sole custody be difficult?
While sole custody can reduce tension in a household, putting the responsibility of raising children on one parent can be difficult. A parent with sole custody could find it difficult to provide for their children without some kind of support from the other parent.
Parents can discuss their child custody options with legal guidance.
